I Tried It: Agave Nectar

Have you heard of agave nectar? I've seen it on store shelves for a while now, but recently brought some home. Here's what I thought of this kind-of-unusual sweetener that hails from the desert, plus an expert's take on whether it's better for you than sugar...

****Agave nectar is a sweetener extracted from the agave plant (kind of like a cactus). Really strange, yes, but this stuff is really good! It's kind of like a slightly runnier honey--and if you try really hard, you can almost detect a bit of an herbal taste.

First important point, she says, is that agave nectar is sweeter than sugar--so you might be able to use less of it to get the same sweetening effect. But, the real good news is this: "Agave nectar has a lower glycemic index than sugar--raises blood sugar more gradually--which may help control hunger better and keep energy levels elevated due to more stable blood sugar levels."

I like the sound of that. I've started swapping out sugar for agave nectar in muffins lately, and I actually think it makes them moister. Only drawback: Agave nectar isn't cheap.